Prison and community sports
Senator Ruane reflected on the Seanad 100 event and then described the role of sports and community activities, including matches involving people affected by addiction or mental health difficulties.
I am not sure if I will speak on the Order of Business again this week, so I thank the staff and everyone in the Oireachtas for their work all year and their help and support. I draw the Cathaoirleach's attention to how we can often take positions as being set. Over the past two and a half years, the Cathaoirleach has shown what it is like to be active in a role, to do other things and to take other initiatives. Yesterday was one part of that but, for the last two and a half years, we have seen many different occasions and events. There are paintings on the wall outside regarding the higher female representation. Having sat on the committee with the Cathaoirleach, I can see how much he participates in the role beyond what people think it is. I am setting this up for the next person who speaks. I thank the Cathaoirleach for setting the standard on how to be fully active in a role and not just to sit back and say that the job description is that he sits in the chair, does Commencement matters and is here for votes. It can be so much more than that. It can be such a big role and can be what we make it. I acknowledge that.
This Thursday, many of us will go into Mountjoy to play a GAA match.
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I know I usually organise soccer matches, but this week, there will be a GAA match. I thank politicians for their participation all year when I have reached out to them to do community events with me, whether in the prison or in the community. It helps to break down barriers. Sometimes, we think of other groups without really knowing about them because we have never really spent any time around them. In the last few years, we have played against teams with players who have struggled with addiction or mental health issues throughout their lives. We have played in Tallaght and Mountjoy. We played in an inner city youth centre once. This week, we will play in Mountjoy again. We were beaten terribly in the last soccer match. I hope all those rural people who had greater access to the GAA than most Dublin folk might win us back some sort of title this week.
On the topic of prison, and men within the prison system, I ask the Leader for statements on prison reform early in the new year. Many politicians who play this week will have an opportunity to engage with the men and to hear about their lives, hopes, aspirations, what they want for the future, and how difficult that transition can be from prison back into life, as well as the isolation, institutionalisation and hardship that can go with that. Maybe in the new year, we can mark our engagement with them this year with some statements on prison reform.